Strong Nordic Line Up For TIFF World Cinema
The Toronto International Film Festival (6 – 16 September) has revealed this year’s Contemporary World Cinema line up which includes a strong array of Nordic productions that present stories of identity, family dynamics, and bold political statements.
TIFF Director of Festival Programming, Kerri Craddock, said: “Each film in Contemporary World Cinema offers a snapshot of the world and shows the importance of compelling global filmmaking, Together, the films expose truth, open borders, and captivate audiences with their deep and empowering stories.”
DENMARK
That Time of Year (Den tid på året) | Paprika Steen | World Premiere
This year at Katrine and Mads’ house the family will be united for Christmas Eve, but beneath the veneer there is trouble brewing and, as truths are revealed, the shared illusion of festive peace is shattered.
Before the Frost (Før frosten) | Michael Noer | World Premiere
A struggling farmer in 19th-century Denmark who must go against his morals and make a deal with a wealthy neighbour in order to secure his family’s survival over a harsh winter.
FINLAND
One Last Deal (Tuntematon mestari) | Klaus Härö | World Premiere
An aging art dealer, left behind by the corporatisation of his industry and estranged from his family, hopes an undervalued icon will turn his fortunes around.
Stupid Young Heart (Hölmö nuori sydän) | Selma Vilhunen | World Premiere
When carefree, young Lenni and his girlfriend find themselves expecting a child, he ends up looking for a role model in all the wrong places as he becomes involved with local right-wing activists.
ICELAND
Let Me Fall (Lof mer ad falla) | Baldvin Z | International Premiere
Drawing on true stories and interviews with the families of addicts, this harrowing portrait of addiction follows Stella and Magnea through the decades as precarious teenage years morph into perilous adulthood.
SWEDEN
Border (Gräns) | Ali Abbasi | North American Premiere
A supernatural romance about a border guard who uses her ability to sense or smell human emotions to catch smugglers but, when one man confounds her detection, she is forced to confront a new reality.